Railway switch and signal apparatus



- Sept. 7, 1937. F. A. ROBBINS, JR-. ET AL 2,092,473

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FiledMarch 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 7, 1937. F. A. ROBBINS. JR. ET AL 2,092,473

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmomfiouf Mia; 1 41021;. %//i Q. (16%;

GU01 um Sept. 7, 1937. F. A. ROBBINS, JR. ET AL 2,092,473

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 o 1 52 17g. 025 J 91 o 0 f2; e? If; 42; 6i ,filg 7 i @76 inn) 5 0 r? n gu-ucurow W E0102 4 fiabfilklaj 11:

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS Application March 2, 1934, Serial No. 713,626

22 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in switch and signal apparatus for railway track structures.

One object of our invention is to provide a railway switch with means to efiectively lock the switch point against the stock rail when the switch lever is in its normally locked position.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic control for a switch signal so that the signal will indicate the condition of the railway track switch atall times.

A still further object of our invention is to provide mechanism for automatically setting a danger signal should the switch points be moved 5' to their improper position due, for example, to a train trailing through the switch when the switch is locked in its normal position.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a railway switch structure embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the control mechanism for the switch and signal.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the mechanism in locked relation.

26 Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 with the mechanism unlocked, the contacts engaged but with the locking bar and the detector bar in the same position as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 4, with the locking bar and the detector bar in a different position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 except that the detector bar is shown moved to the right, the control lever depressed and the contacts engaged.

Referring to the drawings, 28 designates a railway switch and 2| the operating mechanism for the switch. The switch is of the ordinary well-known construction and comprises the usual stock rails 22 and 23 and the movable switch points 24 and 25, the switch points being connected for simultaneous movement by a tie rod 26 and a front rod 21.

The operating mechanism 2| as shown in the drawings, comprises a switch stand 28 having its base 29 secured by suitable means to the ties adjacent the switch 20. A crank 38 which is connected to the tie rod 26 by the connecting rod 3|, is operatively connected to a hand throw lever 32 through suitable operating mechanism comprising the segmental gear 33 and the pinion 34.

A derailer (not shown) is operatively connected to the segmental gear 33 through the medium of the connecting rod 35 and the crank 36.

operatively connected to the front rod 21 of the switch 20 are the interlocking rods 31, and the detector rod 38, both or which extend beneath the rail 22 and cooperate with suitable switch locking and signal controlling mechanism which cooperates with the hand throw lever 32. 5

Mounted adjacent to the switch throw lever 32 is a suitable casing 39 for the control and locking mechanism. The casing 39 comprises a housing 48 and a U-shaped bracket 4|.

The free ends of the interlocking rods 3! pass through the housing 40 and terminate beyond the bracket 4!. A notch 42. is provided in the upper edge of the interlocking rods 3! adjacent their free ends for the reception of the hand throw lever 32 when the switch is in its closed 15 positionso as to retain the switch point 24 against the stock rail 22.

A latch 43, which is pivotally mounted in the bracket 4| at 43, is provided with a projection 44 which is engaged by the lever 32 during the o closing of the switch. and with a projection 45 which extends over the switch lever 32 when the switch is closed. An aperture 46 is provided in the projection 45 of the latch 43 to receive the shackle of a padlock 41 so as to retain the lever 32 in its locked position and therefore retainv the interlocking rods 3lagainst displacement. The latch 43 is also provided with a laterally projecting pin 43 which is so mounted on the latch that the end 49. of the pin 48 will enter a slot 58 in the under side of the interlocking rods 31 when the rods are in their locked position and will engage the under surface of the rods 3'! when the throw lever 32 and the rods 31 are operated to open the switch, thus retaining the latch 43 in its open position until the switch point 24 is brought against the rail 22 and the end 49 of the pin 48 registers with the slot 58.

The end 5| of the pin 48 extends into a cammed slot 52 of the operating lever 53 of the control mechanism for the switch signal. The end 54 of the operation lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the pin 55, which may be a fixed pivot if a detector bar is not to be used or if a detector bar is used a movable pivot as shown in the drawings. As shown in the drawings, the lever 53 has a projection 56 extending laterally thereof upon which is rotatably'mounted the roller 51. Connecting links 58 which have one end pivotally mounted on the pin and the other end pivotally mounted on the pin 59 connect the lever 53 to the housing 40;

Connected to the lever 53 through the medium of the segment 60 is a contact bar 6|, which is slidably mounted between the guides 62 and 63,

and which is operatively connected to the contact fingers 64 so as to move the contact fingers into and out of contact with the stationary contacts 65 to operate a signal for the railway switch. The 5 segment 60 is provided with a series of apertures 66 to receive the pin 61 which connects the contact bar 6| with the segment 66 so that the proper adjustment may be made between the lever 53 and the contact bar 6|. The lever 53 is also provided with a lateral projection 68 for the purpose hereinafter to be described.

Slidably mounted in a suitable guideway in the housing 40 is a detector bar 10. The detector bar 10 has its outer end operatively connected to the switch point 24 so that any lateral movement of the switch point 24 will operate the detector bar. The inner end of the detector bar 10, which extends into the housing 40, is provided with an elongated slot H within which the projection 68 of the lever 53 is mounted, and with a notch 12 within which a detent13 enters when the switch is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. A slot 14, which is in communication with the slot H, is also provided in the detector bar 10. The surface 15 of the bar adjacent the slot 14 provides a support for the roller 51 under normal conditions when the switch points are in their closed position as shown in Fig. 1. An incline 16 connects the surface 15 and the surface 11 adjacent theslot H and provides an incline for the roller to travel upon during the abnormal operation of the switch as shown in Fig. 6. In cases where the detector bar 10 is not required the lever 53 is pivoted directly to the housing or the detector bar 10 is disconnected from the switch points and is locked by suitable means in fixed relation with the housing 40.

In operation, assuming that the switch apparatus is in the condition shown in Fig. 1, that is, 40 with the switch 2!! closed so that traffic will pass over the main line and the throw lever 32 locked in its closed position by the latch 43 being locked in its closed position by the padlock 41 and it is desired to throw the switch to open position so that traflic may pass over the siding, the lock 41 is removed from the latch 43 and the end of throw lever 32 is lifted out of the bracket in its operation towards its open position.

The movement of the throw lever 32 from its closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, to the position shown in Fig. 4, rotates the latch about its pivot 43' due to the engagement of the throw lever 32 with the projection 45 and withdraws the end 49 of the pin 48 from the notch 50 in the interlocking rods 31 and at the same time reciprocates the other end 5| of the pin 48 to the lower portion of the cam slot 52 and operates the lever 53 in a downward direction about its pivot 55. The downward movement of the lever 53 moves the 0 contact bar 6| downwardly and brings the contact fingers 64 into contact with the stationary contacts 65, thus completing an electrical circuit therethrough which operates a signal to show danger for the main line. If the detector 5 bar 10 is used the last mentioned operation of the lever 53 withdraws the detent 13 from the notch 12 in the detector bar 10.

The further operation of the throw lever 32 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 moves the switch point 24 from against the rail 22 and moves the switch point 25 against the rail 23, thus opening switch 20 so that trafiic may pass onto the siding. During the operation of the throw lever 32 to this position the interlocking rods 31, which are connected to the switch points, are moved to a position Where the notch 50 is out of alignment with the pin 48, and the notch 42 in the upper surface of the interlocking rods 31 is out of registry with the bracket 4|.

With the interlocking rods 31 in this position it is impossible to close the latch as the pin 43 engages the under side of the rods 31. As the operation of the signal is dependent upon the latch 43 operating the contact bar 6| it is clear that the signal will remain set for danger on the main line as long as the interlocking rods 31 are in the position shown in Fig. 5.

If the detector bar 10 is used, the operation of the throw lever 32 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 moves the detector bar 10 so that the detent 73 is out of alignment with the notch 12. The detent 13 now is beneath the surface of the detector bar adjacent the slot H and therefore will retain the contact bar 6| in its down position with the contact fingers 64 in engagement with the stationary contacts 65 without the aid of the latch 43.

When it is desired to close the switch 20, the

throw lever 32 is operated towards the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This operation. under normal conditions, moves the switch points laterally and reciprocates the interlocking rods 31 and the detector bar 10 to the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 when the throw lever reaches the position shown in Fig. 4. That is, the notch 42 in the upper side of the interlocking rods is brought into alignment with the throw lever 32 and the notch 50 in the under side of the interlocking rods is brought into position so that the pin 48 will enter the notch 56 upon the movement of the latch 43, and the notch I2 in the detector bar 76 is brought into position so that the detent 13 will enter therein upon the operation of the lever 53. When the switch lever is in this position the switch point 24 is against the rail 22, and the signal remains set for danger to the main track. As the notch 42 in the rods 31 is in alignment with the throw lever 32, the further operation of the throw lever will enter the notch 42 and at the same time engage the projection 44 on the latch 43 and operate the latch to its closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. During the operation of the latch 43 to this position the end 49 of the pin 48 will enter the notch 56 and the other end 5| of the pin 48 will move to the upper portion of the cam slot 52 and rotate the lever 53 about its pivot 55 and move the detent 13 into the notch 12. This operation will reciprocate the contact bar 6| upwardly and move the contact fingers 64 out of contact with the stationary contacts 65 and thus open the circuit to the signal and operate the signal to its safety position.

Should the switch points for any reason fail to operate to their correct position with reference to the main rail, due, for example, to an obstruction occurring between the switch point 24 and the main rail 22 or for any other cause, the notch 42 in the interlocking rods will not be in alignment with the throw lever 32 so that .the lever 32 cannot be operated to its closed position, if the switch points are not in their correct position, and as it is not possible for the throw lever 32 to operate the latch 43 until it enters the notch 42 in the interlocking rods 31, it will not be possible to operate the signal, and therefore the signal will remain set for danger to traffic on the main line as long as the switch points'are in their incorrect position with reference to the main rail.

Assuming that the apparatus is locked in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the switch point 24 is forced away from the rail 22 without movement of the switch throw lever 32, the detector bar 10, which is connected to the .front of the switch point 24 is moved to the right. This movement of the detector bar 1!] removes the support 15 from beneath the roller 5! and the further movement of thedetector bar 10 forces the detent 13 out of the notch 12 and the roller 51 to move down the incline 16, reciprocating the contact bar 6| downwardly and moving the contact fingers 64 into contact with the stationary contacts 65, as shown in Fig. 6, thus closing the circuit and operating the signal to its danger position.

It will therefore appear from the foregoing that we have devised a switch and signal apparatus which, under normal conditions, will operate a signal to its danger position before the switch point is separated from the rail during the opening of the switch and which is held in such position until the switch is completely closed and the switch point is against the main rail and also which is operatable under abnormal conditions to set the signal to danger, should the switch point be accidentally or otherwise separated from the main rail, so that the danger signal is always automatically set for the main-line when it is unsafe for traflic to operate thereon.

While We have shown our invention in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set'forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a railway track system, a main line track and a siding track, a switch for said track, a switch lever operatively connected to the switch to open and close said switch, means comprising a latch for locking theswitch lever in closed position, projections on said latch extending into the path of the switch lever, whereby the operation of the switch lever automatically operates said latch to open and closed positions, a controller for a signal for the track 5 system, and operating means for said controller pivotally connected to said latch, whereby upon the operation of the switch lever to its open and closed positions, the lever engages said latch and automatically operates the controller for the signal.

2. In combination with a railway track system, a track switch, an operating lever for said switch, a locking latch for said lever adapted to be operated by said lever during the opening and closing of the switch, a controller for a signal for said track system, and operating means for said controller pivotally connected to said latch.

3. In combination with a railway track system, a main track and a siding track, movable switch points forsaid tracks, a switch stand, a throw lever associated with said switch stand and operatively connected to said switch points, interlocking mechanism for said switch and said lever, a housing for said mechanism,"-said interlocking mechanism comprising interlocking bars connected to said switch and normally operatable therewith and projecting into said housing, said bars having a slot in their upper edge for the reception of the throw lever when the switch is in its closed position and also having a slot in their lower edge, a latch pivotally mounted in the housing and operatable into locking relation with said lever when the lever is in its closed position and means associated with said latch to engage the lower edge of said bar to retain the latch in its open position when the switch is in its open position and adapted to enter the slot in the lower edge of said bars to permit said latch to be moved to its lockedrelation with the switch lever.

4. In combination with a railway switch of movable switch rails, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rails for operating said rails to opened and closed positions, and means comprising a latch operatable to open and closed positions by the throw lever for locking said lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch and an operating lever pivotally connected to diate its ends.

5. In combination with the movable switch rails of a railway switch, an interlocking rod connected to the switch rails and movable therewith, a throw lever for moving thesw'itch rails to opened and closed positions, means associated with the interlocking rod adapted to be engaged by the throw lever for locking the' interlocking rod when the switch rails are in their closed position, said interlocking bars having a slot therein, a latch having a member to enter said slot and operatable by the throw lever for retaining said throw lever in its closed position and means comprising said member for retaining said latch in its opened position while the throw lever is in its opened position.

6. In combination with a railway track system, a railway switch, comprising a movable switch rail, a locking bar, said locking bar having one end operatively connected to said switch rail and having a notch in its upper surface adjacent its opposite end to accommodate the switch lever in its closed position and anotch in its under surface intermediate its ends, and a latch operatable by the switch lever having a member to enter the last mentioned notch when the switch is in its closed position.

7. In combination with a railway track system, a railway switch, comprising a movable switch rail, a locking bar, said locking bar having one end operatively connected to said switch rail and having a notch in its upper surface adjacent its opposite end to accommodate the switch lever in its closed position and a notch in its under surface intermediate its ends, a latch operatable by the switch lever having a member to enter the last mentioned notch when the switch is in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said track system, a locking lever for said controller having a cammed slot therein' and a member operatable by said latch reciprocatively mounted within said slot.

8. In combination with a railway track system, a track switch, a switch lever for operating the switch to open and closed positions, a latch operatable by the switch lever for locking said lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said track system, said controller comprising a movable contact bar and an operating lever therefor having a cammed slot therein, and

said controller intermemeans associated with said latch reciprocatively mounted within said slot and adapted to operate said operating lever upon the operation of said latch by the switch lever.

9. In combination with a railway track system, a track switch, an operating lever for said switch, a locking latch for said lever operatable to opened and closed positions by said lever, a controller for a signal for said track system, said controller comprising a movable contact bar and an operating lever therefor having a cammed slot in one end thereof and pivotally mounted on its other end, and means associated with the latch reciprocatively mounted within said slot.

10. In combination with a railway switch of movable switch rails, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rails for operating said rails to opened and closed positions, means comprising a latch for locking said switch rails in their closed position said latch having a member projecting above the switch lever adapted to be engaged by said lever to open said latch and a member projecting into the path of the switch lever and adapted to be engaged by the switch lever to close said latch and to retain said latch in its closed position while the switch lever is in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch and operating means for said controller pivotally connected to said latch to automatically operate said controller upon the operation of said latch by the throw lever to open and closed positions.

11. In combination with a railway switch of movable switch rails, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rails for operating said rails to opened and closed positions, means comprising a latch for locking said switch rails in closed position, a controller for asignal for said switch and means comprising a lever pivotally mounted at each end operatively connected to said latch to automatically operate said controller upon the operation of said latch, and means associated with the last mentioned means for looking the controller in its operated position.

12. In combination with a railway track system, a track switch, an operating lever for said switch, a locking latch for said lever operatable by said lever, a controller for a signal for said track system, said controller comprising a movable contact bar and an operating lever therefor having a cammed slot in one end thereof, and means associated with the latch reciprocatively mounted within said slot, whereby the operation of the latch by the switch lever automatically operates the controller lever, and the cammed surface of the lever adjacent said slot engages the projection on said latch and locks the latch in its open position and the controller lever in its operated position.

13. In combination with a railway switch of movable switch rails, a detector bar connected to said switch rails and movable therewith, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rails for normally operating said rails to opened and closed positions, means comprising a latch for locking said throw lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch, operating means for said controller pivotally connected to said latch to automatically operate said controller upon the operation of the latch and means associated with the detector bar for operating the controller under certain conditions while the latch is closed.

14. In combination with a railway track structure a turnout switch therefor, operating means for said switch, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever pivotally connected to said controller intermediate its ends and independent operating means for said lever operatively connected thereto adjacent each end thereof.

15. In combination with a railway switch, of a movable switch rail, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rail for operating said switch to opened and closed positions, means comprising a latch operatable by the switch lever for locking said switch in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch, a housing for said controller, a detector bar having one end operatively connected to the switch rail and the other end slidably mounted in the housing for the controller, means associated with said controller adapted to be operated by the detector bar to operate said controller upon the operation of the switch rail while the switch lever is in its locked condition and separate means for operating said controller upon the operation of the switch rail by the switch lever.

16. In combination with a railway switch of a movable switch rail, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rail to operate said switch to opened and closed positions, means comprising an element operatable by the switch lever for retaining said switch in its closed position, a detector bar operatively connected to said switch, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever for said controller and adjustable means comprising a member having a series of apertures therein connecting said lever to said controller.

17. In combination with a railway switch of a movable switch rail, a detector bar operatively connected to said rail, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rail to operate said switch to opened and closed positions, a latch pivotally mounted adjacent the switch lever and operatable in two directions by the switch lever for locking said switch lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever for said controller, a detent on said controller lever extending into a recess in the detector bar, said controller lever having a cammed recess in one end thereof, a projection on the latch pivotally mounted within said recess whereby upon the operation of the detector bar while the latch is in its closed position the detent ,on the controller lever is forced out of said recess in the detector bar and the controller lever pivots around the projection on the latch.

18. In combination with a railway switch of a movable switch rail, a detector bar operatively connected to said rail, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rail to operate said switch to opened and closed positions, a latch pivotally mounted adjacent the switch lever and operatable in two directions by the switch lever for looking said switch lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever for said controller, a detent on said controller lever extending into a recess in the detector bar, said controller lever having a oammed recess in one end thereof, a projection on the latch pivotally mounted within said recess, a link pivotally connected to the other end of the controller lever, a member associated with the detector bar normally supporting said link con nection when the latch is in its closed. position and removable as a support upon the operation of said detector bar whereby upon the operation of the detector bar while the latch is in its closed position the controller lever and link connection is depressed by the detector bar forcing the detent out of the recess therein and thereby operates the signal to its effective position.

19. In combination with a railway track structure, a turnout switch therefor, operating means for said switch, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever pivotally connected to said controller intermediate its ends and having one of its ends pivotally connected to a locking latch for said switch operating means and its other end pivotally connected to a link member.

20. In combination with a railway track structure, a turnout switch therefor, operating means for said switch, a detector bar operatively connected to said switch, a controller for a signal for said switch, an operating lever connected to said controller intermediate its ends and operating means for said controller lever operatively connected to one end thereof and to the aforementioned switch operating means and an independent operating means for said controller operatively connected thereto adjacent the other end thereof.

21. In combination with a railway track system, a railway switch, comprising a movable switch rail, a switch lever to operate said switch rail, a locking bar, said locking bar having one end operatively connected to said switch rail and having a notch in its under surface intermediate its ends and a latch operatable by the switch lever having a member to enter said notch when the switch is in its closed position.

22. In combination with a railway switch of movable switch rails, a detector bar connected to said switch rails and movable therewith, a throw lever operatively connected to said switch rails for normally operating said rails to open and closed positions, means comprising a latch oper atable by the throw lever for locking said throw lever in its closed position, a controller for a signal for said switch, operating means for said controller pivotally connected to said latch to automatically operate said controller upon the operation of the latch by the throw lever and means associated with the detector bar for operating the controller under certain conditions while the throw lever is locked in its closed position by the latch.

FRANK A. ROBBINS, JR. CHARLES A. ALDEN. 

